ATLANTA, GEORGIA – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently weighing the decision of recommending a potential Covid booster shot for this spring. The booster shot is being considered especially for individuals who are at higher risk of experiencing severe complications from the virus.
The proposed spring booster would be the same vaccine that received approval last fall, specifically formulated to target the XBB.1.5 subvariant. This vaccine has also shown to be highly effective against the JN.1 subvariant, which is currently responsible for the majority of Covid infections in the United States.
Despite the likelihood of a low uptake in the general population, experts stress the importance of making the booster available sooner rather than later. According to Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, the evidence suggests that the protection provided by the vaccine or previous infection wanes substantially after four to six months.
A recent statement from the CDC indicated that there are no immediate plans to change the isolation guidelines for individuals who test positive for Covid. However, the decision to recommend a spring Covid booster will be on the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, with a focus on vulnerable populations such as individuals aged 65 and older and those with weakened immune systems.
Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, emphasized that the committee will carefully consider the potential recommendation for a second dose for high-risk individuals or those who wish to receive it. However, vaccine fatigue within vulnerable groups is also becoming an issue, according to Dr. William Werbel, associate director of epidemiology and quantitative sciences with the Johns Hopkins Transplant Research Center.
The CDC recommends waiting at least two months after receiving a Covid vaccine or recovering from a Covid infection before getting another shot, even for high-risk patients. Vaccination rates are higher for individuals aged 65 and older, with research showing that those who received the latest booster shot were significantly less likely to be infected with Covid. Despite the CDC not being obligated to follow the advice of its advisory panels, it usually does, and as of this month, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths from Covid have been on the decline.
The potential decision to recommend a spring Covid booster by the CDC will have wide-ranging implications, especially for those most vulnerable to the virus. As the debate unfolds, it is clear that the ongoing effort to manage the pandemic and protect public health will continue to be a key priority for health officials and experts across the country.